PM defends overseas travel expenses

In a robust defence of her overseas travel bill, Prime Minister Mia Mottley countered opposition criticism by highlighting the substantial financial benefits her trips have secured for Barbados, including over $120 million in grants.

Addressing Parliament, Mottley detailed her travel costs and outcomes, arguing that these journeys were crucial for securing tangible benefits for the nation.

Mottley dismissed claims that her trips were extravagant or unnecessary, rebutting heavy criticism from Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne during his 10-hour-long Budget Reply delivered over Tuesday and Wednesday.

She declared: “I don’t travel for holiday, I travel in the name of the people of this country to be able to secure benefits. I challenge anyone to dispute our record.”

To reinforce her point, the prime minister detailed her travel spending since taking office in 2018, shuffling documents and displaying them to the House.

“For the entire year [2025], my travel has come to $19 660.95. In seven years, the total amount comes to just about $1.457 million across 93 trips, with an average of $15 000 per trip. I don’t travel first class,” the PM said.

Mottley emphasised that these trips have led to significant financial gains for Barbados.

“What are the benefits in terms of grants that this government has gotten as a result of that travel? …. When the ministry prepared this, they included one figure that came at the beginning of 2018 and I don’t have nothing to hide. So I told [them] take that $27.6 million out. So subtract that from $146 887 000 in grant money, not loans. [Do] you know what grant money is? It [is] free.”

She pointed to ongoing high-profile events, such as the Sustainable Energy for All Global Forum, currently taking place here with over 1 300 registered participants.

She highlighted the presence of distinguished global figures, including the president of Sierra Leone, the deputy prime minister of Tanzania, Nigeria’s finance minister and former vice president and the former second lady of Ghana.

A key achievement, according to Mottley, was the visit of the head of the Green Climate Fund, which plays a major role in securing climate-related grants — an area in which she has been an outspoken global advocate.

The prime minister reinforced the necessity of her travel engagements, arguing that the financial returns and international partnerships forged through these efforts far outweigh the costs.

Thorne had previously accused Mottley of indulging in excessive travel at a time when many Barbadians were struggling under economic hardship. The opposition leader accused the government of showing a lack of fiscal responsibility and failing to offer economic relief for citizens.

Mottley insisted that her administration’s record speaks for itself, citing the hundreds of millions secured in grants as proof of her government’s commitment to national development. (IMC1)